Class Notes 9/5 (recorded by Emily Smith):

Casablanca Themes
“La Marseillaise” scene- French national anthem
The Germans were trying to sing their own song, but everyone else sings the French anthem to show they can’t be controlled.
The movie was made during WWII, and the song showed the French people showing their morale’s as if they were involved in the war.

Themes:
Sacrifice- Rick sacrificing giving up Ilsa to let her and Victor get away
Crime/black market- what it’s like to live during WWII
Desire to escape- want to escape and get the visas
National Pride/patriotism- French anthem
Love- the love triangle between Rick, Ilsa, and Victor
Hope

Class notes 9/6 (recorded by Katie O'Brien)


- Was Ilsa’s leaving Rick in Paris cruel or loving?

  • o LOVING, IF RICK DIDN’T LEAVE HE WOULD HAVE DIED.
  • o RICK WAS COMPLETELY HEART BROKEN, AND WAS SAD/LONELY FOR YEARS TO COME… WHAT IF ILSA NEVER SAW RICK AGAIN?
  • o FROM HER OPTIONS, WHAT SHE CHOICE WAS THE LESSER OF THE EVIL. SHE WAS NOT TRYING TO HURT RICK.



- Who is the most honest character in the film? The most dishonest?

  • o DISHONET:
    • § ILSA
  • o HONEST:
    • § GERMANS
    • § RICK
    • § VICTOR
    • § SAM



CLIP: WHEN ILSA COME TO RICK’S AND SAYS HE CAN GIVE ANY PRICE FOR THE 2 VISAS. HE DOES NOT BACK DOWN, SO SHE THREATENS WITH A GUN.

-RICK DID NOT FEEL THREATENED

- DOES NOT SEEM LIKE ISLA WOULD SHOOT

-RICK SHOWS HER UP BY WALKING CLOSER AND SAYING HE CAN MAKE IT EASIER

-APATHY IS MUCH WORTH THAN HATE

-HAVING SOMEONE DISLIKE YOU VS. SOMEONE JUST NOT CARING OR NOTICING.

REASONS TO GO TO RICKS:

- SHE ADMITS SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN….

- SHE IS EXPRESSING WHAT SHE DID.. AND WHY SHE DID IT

- EXLPAIN HERSELF

-LETTERS OF TRANS

-RECEIVE FORGIVENESS

-SEE RICK



CLIP: RICK AND VICTOR TALKING WHEN VICTOR IS TRYING TO WRAP HIS ARM AFTER HE WAS ALMOST CAUGHT.

- VICTOR IS VERY OPEN BY SAYING HE KNOWS ABOUT RICK AND ILSA

- IS IT BETTER TO BE JEALOUS OR MORE LIKE VICTOR AND NOT WANT TO KNOW



CLIP: ENDING SCENE

- “YOU’RE AN IMPORTANT PART OF VICTORS WORK”

  • o RICK IS SAYING SHE SHOULD GO BECAUSE OF VICTOR NOT BECAUSE SHE LOVES VICTOR

- “THE LIVES OF 3 PEOPLE DON’T ADD UP TO ANYTHING”

  • o USUALLY OTHER PEOPLE DON’T CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES PROBLEMS
  • o IMPORTANCE OF EACH LIVE… RICK IS ARGUING AGAINST THAT
  • o JUST THREE PEOPLE THAT STRUGGLE BEING HONEST TOGETHER, IT’S A LOVE TRIANGLE
  • o THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON AROUND THEM INCLUDING THE WAR
  • o SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

- “HERE IS LOOKING AT YOU KID”

- VICTOR SAYS HE DOESN’T WANT TO KNOW, BUT RICK CONTINUES TO TELL VICTOR THAT ISLA CAME OVER THE LAST NIGHT. VICTOR JUST SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS.

  • o RICK TRYS TO GET THE TRUTH OUT BEFORE THEY LEAVE
  • o RICKS TIMING WAS NOT PERFECT

- THE ENDING SCENE CAN BE SEEN AS DEPRESSING

IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOVE 2 PEOPLE EQUALLY?